September is a great time to discuss and explore Orange Shirt Day, but you can do this any time of the year. This post shares Orange Shirt Day picture books that you can use for this purpose. All of the picture books on this list lend themselves to this topic really well. Take a peek below to learn more about these Orange Shirt Day picture books!
When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton
Olemaun is an eight year old Inuit girl who can do many things. However, she can’t read the outsiders’ books like her sister can. Although her father doesn’t want Olemaun going to the outsiders’ school, she eventually persuades him.
When Olemaun starts at the new school, the nuns cut her hair and changes her clothes. She doesn’t feel like herself but is excited to learn to read. The girls at the school have many chores to do, and they work until they are sore and tired. Olemaun’s teacher in particular is very mean. She gives Olemaun extra work, but it doesn’t stop her from wanting to learn to read their words. Olemaun spends her time studying the words and letters.
One night, the nun locks Olemaun in the dark basement. Although she is scared, Olemaun thinks of her father. She starts thinking of words she knows and spells them all while she waits. The next day, the nun gives Olemaun a green reader like the older girls have. Olemaun is nervous, but she is able to read in front of the whole class! She is proud of herself and feels victorious.
This inspiring book by Christy Jordan-Fenton is based on a true story.
Check out these When I Was Eight teaching resources and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging read aloud lessons!
When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson
David A. Robertson’s book, When We Were Alone, is a story about a young girl helping her grandmother in the garden. The young girl is observing her grandmother and asks many questions about why she does certain things.
The young girl, referred to as Nósisim, wonders why her grandmother wears such colorful clothes and has such long hair. Her grandmother explains that when she was young, she went to a school far away from her community. At the school, they wanted everyone to look the same so children had to wear the same clothes and cut their hair short.
When she hears her grandmother speaking Cree, the girl asks why she always speaks that language. The girl learns that in school, her grandmother was not allowed to speak her native language, she had to speak the school’s language which she did not understand. Finally, the girl wonders why her grandmother spends so much time with her brother. The grandmother explains in school she was not allowed to spend time with family. Now that her grandmother can make these decisions for herself, she enjoys wearing bright colors, having long hair, speaking Cree, and spending time with family.
When We Were Young explores Native American history and demonstrates the importance of family and individuality.
Check out these When We Were Alone teaching resources and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging read aloud lessons!
Grab the Free Reading Resources!
In closing, we hope you found this list of Orange Shirt Day picture books helpful! They are part of our Starts With a Story collection. If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie. It includes read aloud books lists, reading logs, and reading challenges for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
